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The defeat — which also stretched Toronto’s winless streak to 12 games — was the team’s second-last home game of the season, and came on a cold, windy afternoon with only a moderate crowd on hand. With just two regular season matches remaining and a Champions League date with Santos Laguna, the Reds are essentially playing for jobs next season.

TFC controlled much of the first half, running the ball offensively and attacking D.C.’s net with several opportunities. In the first 13 minutes alone, Toronto had five separate chances on the United goal, several from inside the box, but could not put the ball past D.C. goalkeeper Bill Hamid.

After a few D.C. chances in the latter portion of the half, Toronto continued pressing in the second as midfielders Ryan Johnson and Luis Silva both missed open looks in front in the 61st and 66th minutes.

“You think this is the game we’re going to [finally] right the ship,” said Toronto forward Andrew Wiedman. “I firmly thought we were going to pull it out and get the win, the way we were peppering the goal.”

But it was all for naught, as United would capitalize on one of their few opportunities. In the 88th minute, Toronto goalkeeper Milos Kocic made a horrendous giveaway, after mishandling a shot from D.C. forward Maicon Santos. Salihi, who was right on his doorstep, made Kocic pay, scoring from very close range to give United the one-goal victory.

After the match, Kocic apologized to the team and the fans.

“We deserved today to win and it’s unfortunate,” Kocic said. “I worked hard all week — I was ready to play, ready to help the team … and just that one mistake happened at the end.

“I lost the game for my team today.”

Displeased with the team’s collapse, the fans booed Toronto FC off the pitch.

With the international break about to begin next week due to FIFA World Cup qualifiers, the Reds will not return to the pitch until Oct. 20, when they host the Montreal Impact in their final home game.

“A lot of guys will get some time off and they’ll go home and reflect,” said midfielder Terry Dunfield, who will join the Canadian national team for matches against Cuba and Honduras. “The first thing you can do is look in the mirror and see how you can improve.”